President Obama is committed to improving the nation’s electric grid and spurring the development of renewable energy. Today, the Administration is announcing new investments in the next generation of power transmission and smart grid technology in 13 states and executive actions that will make it easier and faster to permit transmission lines.

The availability of large, publicly accessible digital data sets has unleashed a wave of innovation throughout numerous fields, helping solve significant problems in business, biology, and astronomy. But the potential of such data has not yet been fully realized in materials science and engineering, in part because of the wide variety of relevant properties and methods to measure and model those properties.

Later this year, the Federal government will celebrate the fifth anniversary of Challenge.gov, a one-stop shop that has prompted tens of thousands of individuals, including engaged citizens and entrepreneurs, to participate in more than 400 public-sector prize competitions with more than $72 million in prizes.

Ronald Valdiserri from the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy highlights activities underway across the federal government addressing HIV and aging.

This addition of three national monuments will protect more than 1 million acres of public land, adding to the more than 260 million acres of public lands and waters President Obama has protected for future generations -- more than any other President.

Older Americans who live in rural areas are isolated, with fewer transportation options and limited access to other important services. Knowing these unique challenges is one reason USDA and other federal agencies are investing in housing, health care and nutrition programs for our country’s rural seniors.